Improvement in time-locks



UNITED STATES EMORYSTOGKWELL OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT..

IMPROVEMENT IN TIME-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,062, dated September 21, 1875; application filed March 15, 1875.

' make anduse it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,'which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to. an improved locking mechanism for doors.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of my time or chronometer lock, with its door or lid swung oven. Fig. 2 represents a* section and plan view oi' a portion of the same, showing the counterbalance-lever operating the dog-block. Fig. 3 is a view, part in section and part in plan, showing the springs or buffers and studs for the attachment of the clock-movements and the hour-dials. Fig. 4 is a front elevation and plan view of the counterbalance-lever, dog-block, yoke, and frictionrollers. Fig. 5 is a view, part in front'elevation, part in side elevation, and partv in section, of the hour-dials, showing the diierent manner in which the hours upon the same may be divided from meridian to meridian, or from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. Fig. 6 is a view in front and side elevation of the winding-indicators and winding-stops, gured in such a manner as to indicate at any given time the number of hours which the clock-movement has run; also, the number of hours remaining before the same shall have run down. Fig. 7 is a view in plan and side elevation of one of the adjustable hour-pins. v

This inventionv comprises certain improvements inchronometric or time locks; and the invention consists in cushioning the clock-work of such lock between buffers or springs, thereby preventing its derangement or stoppage by concussion of the door, also,in such a lock provided with a-pair of revolving dials having a'series of adjustable pins. whereby the locking and unlocking of the lock may be fixed at anydesired hour or periodof time 5 also, in combining with such adjustable pins frictionstops for securing the pins in the desired positions; also, in combining two separate and independent clock-movements, each having a revolving dial provided with a series of adjust-` able pins, over which the yoke rides, with bolting or dogging mechanism common to both, and operated by .either one or both of said dials.

The invention further consists in a yoke resting upon moving supports, which are actuated by independent clock-movements, the

motion of any one of which supports will,

tween the clock mechanism and the bolting mechanism,to preventthe stopping of the clock-movement by the blocking of the bolt mechanism of the lock; also, in a chronometric lock, two dials having a series of adjustable pins, and adapted to be revolved independently of their axes when desired; also, the combination of the yoke pivoted to a lever with one -or more revolving dials and rollers `bearing thereon. Further, in the combination or' the yoke, having an adjusting device, with the levers and gate or dog; and also, in a time-lock, the combination of the pivoted yoke and oscillating lever, the yoke, lever, and sliding dog or block, and the lever, counter-weight, aud yoke, severally, as hereinafter more fully specified.

A is any suitable frame or case for holding and containing the chronometer-lock mechanism. B is its cover or lid, which may be swung upon hinges, and provided with a lock. This lid or cover may or may not be constructed partly of glass or other transparent material.

U G are plates carrying and containing any suitable clock mechanism, whose operationand function will hereafter more fully and at large appear. D D are hour-dials, by means of which the times of locking and unlocking may be regulated at will, and which are made to revolve by the clock-movement in such a regular and exact manner as that the correct time at any period-during the twenty-four hoursof the day may be ascertained. dd are stationary pointers for indicating time upon the hour-dials D. E E are adjustable pins,

ATENE OEEIGE.

which may be twelve or twenty-four in number, and upon whose heads are indicated, in suitable characters, the different hours'ot' the day. e e are friction or stop pins for the same, which are operated by springs t, or an-y'suitable equivalent, whereby the stop-pin e shall operate as a friction or stop to the hour-pin E.

F is acounterbalance or oscillating lever, fulcrumed to the case A, and to which is attached, by a swingingjoint atf, the yoke G. This yoke acts as a yielding device, as will hereinafter appear, on account of its being divided into two Aswinging portions,'h`eld together by the action ot' the spiral spring gor its equivalent. Upon either extremity of the yoke G are attached the friction-rollers H. J is the dog-block, bolting device, or locking-piece, attached to lever F. K K are studs by which the clock-movements are attached to the case A. S S are the springs and lo lo the nuts on the studs K K. By me'ans of the springs on the studs the liability of damage to the clock by any sudden concussion or percussion is, to a great degree, obviated. L L'are dials for the indication of minutes. M M are winding-indicators, upon which are placed figures, for purposes which will hereinafter more fully appear. fm m are stationary pointers operating in connection with the winding-indicators M M. N N- are winding-stops of the usual or any desired construction. n n are pinions for the winding-stops N N. O O are regulatorhands for setting the hour-dials so that they shall indicate the correct time of day. O O' are the nuts for fastening the same upon the dials D D.

l have shown two independent clock-movements, which have no combination of action whatever with each other, for thepurpose and intention that should either one ot' said movements at any time run down, or for any reason become inoperative, the remaining' one shall perfectly perform the entire function of the lock. Should it ever be deemed necessary to multiply the clock-movements to a greater number than I have shown, the same may be done, and the mechanism operating the dogblock J be suitably adapted thereto. Any appropriate clock-work may be -employed so long as the same is capable of keeping correct time, or is capable of operating the lock at stated and definite periods in a stated zand definite manner, as herein described.

The action of the clock-work is to revolve the dials D.l VAs here shown, the hour-dials D D revolve in a direction outward from the center, and the adjustable pins-E E must accordingly be arranged so as to read, theone to the right and the other to the left. These adjustable pins are made to pierce the dials, and when not withdrawn or brought forward, they provide a support or bearing for the frictionrollers H, and by their action upon said rollers, through. the yokeG, the counterbalance-lever F is so operated upon that the dogblock J closes the bolt-opening J 5 whereas, were the pins E withdrawn or brought forward, the friction-rollers H would be permit,

ted to-drop down behind the 4disk or dials D, whereby the counterbalance-lever F would be deected, carrying with it the dog-block J, and thereby permitting access to the boltopening J In order to set or adjust the dials D D so that they shall indicate the correct time of day, it is necessary to unscrew the nuts Ol and lift oi the regulator-hands O, when the dials D may be. revolved at pleasure by the hand. The dials D may be divided from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m., andthe two halves denominated night and day; or they may be divided from meridian to meridian and marked a. m.77 and p. m. The correct time is to be read from the top of the dials; therefore, in setting a dial to-correct time it should be turned until the correct time is indicated at the top, and its oppositet'. e., the time twelve hours aheadis directly y in line with the stationary pointer d at the bottom, after which the regulating-hand O is replaced and made to engage in the nearest or most convenient hole upon the face of the dial. Fractions of an hour are indicated upon the minute-dials L'L, which may be set by moving the pointer to the correctI indication.

In order to insure uniformity and reliability of action, any proper regulating mechanism may be attached to or introduced into the clock mechanism, whereby the same may be made to travel slower or faster.

The winding-post and the winding-indicators M, pointers m for the same, winding-'stops N, and pinions n for the same so co-operate that the figures upon the winding-indicators M which represent the hours show how long the clock mechanism has been running, and how long it will continue to operate before running down.-

It will-therefore be seen that my time-lock is open when the adjustable pins immediately under one or both ot' the rollers are pulled out or forward, and during the hours that the lock is desired to remain open the pins representing those hours should be pulled out or forward, while those representing the hours at or during which it is desired to have the lock closed are tov be pushed in, so that they shall force up the coun terbalance-lever and dog-block or b olting mechanism, and thereby close the opening J. Both or all of the dials should be set alike and regulated to run equally, so that if one should fail in its operation the others shall properly perform the functions of the lock. p

To prevent the clocks being deranged by any accident, intentional jarring, or concussion 4of the door or lid to which the lock is attached, the whole clock movement is held between springs S, arranged upon the studs K.

To guard against the stoppage of the clocks4 by the dog-block being prevented from moving by reason of friction against it from the bolt-work ofthe door, the e'ect of which would be to prevent the friction-rollers H from rising, and thereby prevent the rotation of the A hour-dial D, theyoke Gr is made in two parts or sections. held together by the spring g, as

. heretofore described. Should the upward motion of the counterbalance-lever F be impeded or prevented, the spring g permits the two sections of the yoke G to separate, and the rollers to rise to their places without stopping the clocks. When the obstruction or impediment is removed, the operation of the spring g will raise the levcrand dog-block to the locked position.

This chronometer or time lock is designed to be applied to a door, in combination with an ordinary non-chronometric dial or combination lock. I For use upon a bank-safe, the cashier, upon closing his door, locks the diallock as usual, prior to which, however, he winds up, and properly sets and adjusts, the time or chronometer lock to lock at any desired hour, say at 7 or 8 p. 1n., and to remain locked during any period, and to unlock at any desired hour, say at 9 a. m. the next morning. This is done by withdrawing and leaving pushed in the proper hour-pins upon the dials I), whichoperate as hereinbefore described. This leaves the safe-door in such a condition that up to 7 or 8 p. m. the cashier can open it by unlocking the non-chronometric lock; but from 8 p. n1. until 9 a. m. the next day the time-lock Av is closed, during which period, although the non-chronometric lock might be unlocked or destroyed, no one can open the door until 9 cclock a. m. of the next day, when vthe clock-work of the timelock operates to free the opening J, and thus permit the retraction of the bolt-work.

I am aware that chronometer-locks, automatically lookin g and unlocking, are furnished with yielding devices, operated and released by the clock mechanism only, and interposed between the bolt and clock Work, and that the clock in said locks is not stopped when the bolt-work is blocked, but that in said locks the yielding mechanism does not of itself produce this result.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A chronometric lock, the clock mechanism thereofl cushioned on springs, which are interposed between` said mechanism and the case ofthe lock, substantially as and for the purpose described.`

2. In a chronometric lock, a pair of revolving dials provided with a series of adjustable pins, whereby the locking andunlocking of the lock may be fixed at any desired hours or periods of time, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a chronometric lock, the adjustable pins for determining the time' of locking or unlocking, in combination with 'friction-stops, for securingv them in the desired positions, substantially as and for the purpose described. 4. ln a chronometric lock, the combination of two separate and independent clock movements, each having a revolving dial provided with a series of adjustable pins, over which the yoke rides, with bolting or dogging mechanism common to both, and operated by either one or both of said dials, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

5. In a chronom'etric lock, a yoke resting upon moving supports, which are actuated byV independent clock-movements, the motion of any one of which supports will, through said yoke, efect the locking and unlocking of the lock, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a chronometric lock constructed to automatically llock and unlock, a yielding device operated and released bythe clock mechanism, and interposed between the clock mechanism and the bolting mechanism, to prevent the operation ofthe clock mechanism from being stopped by the blocking ot the bolt mechanism of the lock, substantially as shown and described. v

7. In a chronometric lock, two revolving dials, with a series of Y adjustable pins, and constructed to, be revolved independently of their axes or not, as may be desired, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a chronometric lock, the combination of the yoke, pivoted to the lever, with one or more revolving dials, and with rollers bearing thereon, substantially as and for the purpose described..

9. In a chronometric lock, the combination of the yoke, having a yielding device, with the lever and gate or dog, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a chronometric lock, the. yoke pivoted to and in `combination with the` oscillating lever, as and for the purpose described.

11. In a chronometric lock, the combination of an oscillating lever with the yoke pivoted to it, and with a sliding dog or block, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a chronometric lock, the combination of an oscillating lever with a counter-weight and yoke, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of March, 1875.

EMORY STOCKWELL.

Witnesses:

HENRY R. TowNE, FRANKLIN UNDERHILL. 

